Jazz in the Gardens Delivers a Dynamic Mix of Musical Genres
There was no better way to kick off the first week of spring than attending the 14th Annual Jazz in the Gardens Music Festival in Miami Gardens, Florida, for two full days of sold-out performances from artists like Lionel Richie, Brandy, Teddy Riley featuring Blackstreet, Dave Hollister, Bobby Brown, Doug E. Fresh, En Vogue, Jagged Edge, Stephanie Mills, Guy, Betty Wright, The O’Jays, Black Violin and Tye Tribbett.
With near picture-perfect weather in the low 80s, those arriving early found themselves looking for hard-to-find shade while others simply soaked in the sunshine. After all, many had traveled from states where there was plenty of snow and many more weeks of cold weather awaiting their return. No matter the temperature, it definitely did not slow down the vibe at Jazz in the Gardens.
The weekend brought together a group of musically diverse artists of varying genres including jazz, r&b, rap, pop and soul who shared their beliefs in faith and the tales of their well-traveled roads to stardom. It was a weekend where the spiritual vibe flowed as smoothly as the sounds of the saxophone.
Jazz in the Gardens is a festival that has grown since its first festival 13 years ago. The City of Miami Gardens has figured out what the discerning crowds attending this festival want, and it continues to serve it to them year after year.
The food and beverage choices were plentiful and different. There were plenty of Caribbean-themed foods, including various seafood dishes. Ribs, chicken wings, burgers and just about anything fried seemed to be popular choices that appeared on many plates. For those wishing to indulge in a beverage, there were the usuals: beer, wine and mixed cocktails, and there were a few colorful frozen drinks to keep the crowd cool on a summer like day.
If you arrived early, you were impressed with the rows and rows of white folding chairs that quickly add up to thousands of seats resembling a wedding setup on a warm Sunday morning. As you worked your way past the endless rows of chairs, you quickly realized you have just seen a small part of the overall size of the festival. The sheer size of it all makes it quite easy to understand why it is held on the grounds of Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins football team.
It takes years for a music festival to establish its roots and develop a following where fans look forward to attending each year. Jazz in the Gardens is a world-class event and nothing short of amazing, from the music to the food and everything in between.
Beyond the food and music, there was not much else to do. There was a small stage where a DJ kept the music movin’ and groovin’ in between acts. This event didn’t offer anything outside of the aforementioned music and food, but those who have attended Jazz in the Gardens in the past knew what they came for.
Radio personality Rickey Smiley was the featured guest host of the event who kept everyone entertained before and after each artist’s performance with his own style of humor.
Saturday’s music kicked off day one that featured an impressive set by Black Violin and Jagged Edge. Things heated up as the sun slowly dipped behind the horizon when Teddy Riley and Friends took the stage. Aaron Hall, Teddy Riley, and Bobby Brown all took the stage, singing some of their most nostalgic songs.
En Vogue was impressive. The trio, consisting of Terry Ellis, Rhona Bennett and Cindy Herron, was clearly the best of the best on Saturday night when it came to vocal performance. At one point, they performed a cappella, a true testament to the power of the trio’s vocal prowess.
Rapper Doug E. Fresh took festival goers back to the 90s with his classic human beatbox sounds that night delivered a well choreographed performance that got everyone out of their chairs and rapping along with him to many of his classic hits.
Walter Williams, Eddie Levert and Eric Grant of The O’Jays were outstanding. This legendary trio hooked the audience with their dance skills, amazing outfits, and all-around energetic sets; they have not lost a step and are still going strong since forming the band in 1958. This classic R&B super group gave the crowd exactly what they came for, every hit including “Love Train,” “Use to Be My Girl,” “For the Love of Money,” and “Put Your Hands Together.”
Clearly the disappointment of the weekend was Brandy. It had been known that she had been sick and not in a position to perform. However, during her performance, she fell down as she stepped off a set of stairs while on stage, her vocals continued while she was on the floor with the mic clearly away, leading to accusations of lip-syncing her entire performance.
Lionel Richie was clearly the fan favorite performer and was the best performer of the festival. Things didn’t go smoothly for Richie, either. He was supposed to take the stage at 10 PM, and since it was a Sunday night everyone was anxious to see him perform and on time. Sadly, Richie didn’t take the stage until 10:45. While a few had left, the majority of those who came remained. They were treated to a performance by a true legend whose voice echoed across the Miami night sky. Richie opened on the piano singing his legendary hit “Easy” and closed out his fabulous performance with “All Night Long.”
Jazz in the Gardens was a truly enjoyable festival that not only featured a group of musically diverse artists but also brought together people from varying religions, races. geographic areas, and socioeconomic backgrounds. It was a place to make new friends, reconnect with old ones, and build bonds with a community that has made it their mission to continue to deliver a festival that can be attended by anyone who wishes to do so. One can only wait to see who will be appearing at next year’s Jazz in the Gardens.